Yvette Cooper told The Andrew Marr Show the case could lead to a security review in ParliamentJeff Overs/BBC/PA

Sadie Gray

Last updated at 2:23PM, December 5 2010

A Liberal Democrat MP in the House of Commons today defended his young woman
researcher who has been arrested on suspicion of being a Russian spy and is
facing deportation.

Ekaterina Zatuliveter, a 25-year-old Russian employed by Portsmouth South MP
Mike Hancock, was arrested last week by police reportedly acting on behalf
of MI5 and Border Agency officals. She is suspected of working for Russia’s
foreign intelligence service, the SVR, according to reports.

Mr Hancock, 64, today confirmed that Ms Zatuliveter had been taken into
detention and was fighting deportation. He defended his staffer, denying she
was a sleeper agent